Why Manipur Will Miss Mary Kom's Film Avatar

Imphal: Boxer MC Mary Kom is one of India's biggest sporting icons. Back home in Manipur, her story is one of grit and perseverance, and one where, in between attending school, caring for her younger siblings, and training to be a boxer in the insurgency ridden state, Mary Kom went on to become an Olympic medalist, a five-time world amateur boxing champion and a Padma Bhushan recipient.

Her story is now being told on celluloid, through the Sanjay Leela Bhansali produced film 'Mary Kom', that is supposed to release across India on September 5. But for those in Manipur who want to see more of their icon on the big screen, there may not be any option.

For 14 years, Bollywood films have been banned across Manipur by the state's various underground organisations, who say Hindi films in particular are a threat to the local culture and values of the state.

A year ago, Priyanka Chopra, who plays Mary Kom in the film, and the film's director Omung Kumar visited Manipur and had expressed the hope that the audience in Manipur would be able to connect with the film.

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But with the state's underground organisations unrelenting, it does not seem the film will manage to release in Mary Kom's home state. So far, the boxer has not reacted to this development, but many on the streets of Manipur, especially youngsters, who do not wish to be quoted out of fear, say they should be allowed to watch the film and an exception should be made in this case.

Some others, like filmmaker Thangjamang Haokip say they are not happy that not even a scene or two for the film was shot in Manipur, but say the film should get as big an audience as possible.

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A Manipur tribal body, meanwhile, has urged rebel groups to allow the screening of the film, but so far, the underground outfits have not relented.